Nigeria honoured Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday by conferring upon him the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), the country's second-highest national award. Modi became only the second foreign dignitary to receive the distinction, following Queen Elizabeth, who was awarded the GCON in 1969.
Expressing his gratitude after receiving the award from Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Modi said, "Honoured to be conferred with the ‘Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger’ Award by Nigeria. I accept it with great humility and dedicate it to the 140 crore people of India and the friendship of India and Nigeria." He also thanked the government and people of Nigeria for the honour.
India-Nigeria Relations Built On ‘Mutual Cooperation, Goodwill And Respect': PM Modi
This marks the 17th international award conferred upon Modi by a foreign country. In his address, Modi emphasised that the relationship between India and Nigeria is built on "mutual cooperation, goodwill and respect", news agency PTI reported. He added, "As two vibrant democracies with dynamic economies, we have been working together for the well-being of the people of both countries."
During his meetings with Nigerian leadership, Modi discussed ways to strengthen and broaden bilateral cooperation, highlighting new opportunities in sectors including economy, energy, agriculture, security, fintech, small and medium-scale enterprises, and cultural exchange. According to PTI, he noted, "Nigeria has a very big and positive role in Africa, and close cooperation with Africa has been a high priority for India."
Modi reiterated that India and Nigeria will continue to work together for the prosperity of their people and the entire African continent. "We will give importance to the interests and priorities of the Global South, working in close coordination," he said.
This visit marks Modi's first trip to Nigeria in 17 years, at the invitation of President Tinubu. Upon his arrival in Nigeria, Modi was warmly welcomed by Minister for Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, who presented him with the "Key to the City" of Abuja. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) later posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the key symbolised the trust and honour bestowed upon the prime minister by the people of Nigeria.
Following his visit to Nigeria, Modi will travel to Brazil to attend the G20 summit, with his final stop being Guyana.